Houston at Miami (7:30 p.m. EST). The Van Gundy brothers meet for the second time this season.

STARS

Saturday

_Ray Allen, Sonics, scored 41 points in a 102-97 win over the Clippers.

_Darrell Armstrong, Hornets, scored 35 points to lead New Orleans to a 98-96 victory over the Spurs.

_Jason Richardson, Warriors, had 31 points in a 105-87 win over the Trail Blazers.

_Kwame Brown, Wizards, scored a career-high 25 points and had nine rebounds in a 107-96 victory over the Pacers.

_Slava Medvedenko, Lakers, had 26 points and 12 rebounds in a 93-86 win over the Jazz.

_Lamar Odom, Heat, had 19 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to lead Miami to an 85-77 win over the Knicks.

KOBE'S RETURN

After missing six games because of a sprained right shoulder, Kobe Bryant returned from the injured list with 21 points and six assists in a 93-86 win over the Utah Jazz Saturday night. It was the Lakers' first road win since a Dec. 4 victory at Dallas.

COMING ON STRONG

New Orleans' Darrell Armstrong scored a career-high 35 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer with a second left in a 98-96 win over the Spurs on Saturday night. Armstrong finished 11-from-21 from the field and 9-for-9 from the line.

KWAME'S MATURATION

Kwame Brown had a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 107-96 victory over the Pacers on Saturday night. Brown went 8-for-12 from the field and 9-for-10 from the line.

BEASTS AGAINST THE EAST

The Spurs' 98-96 loss to the Hornets was only San Antonio's second loss at home against an Eastern Conference team. The Spurs are 10-2.

SPEAKING

``It's just a freak of the NBA season. It just happened tonight for us.'' _ Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, on his team's 107-96 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers.